Page 72 of Searching for the Prince
“I sense you won’t be swayed on this,” she said after a few moments of awkward silence.
“No, if for no other reason than it proves that I have chosen my partner wisely, the magic wouldn’t work if we were incompatible.”
“We will discuss this another time, for now we have a wedding to attend. I’ll portal us to the door of the great hall so you can make your entrance.”
Traditionally, he should have walked the path leading to where the ceremony would take place, and he’d always imagined a glade or in front of a waterfall, but Metra did not deserve to be part of those dreams, and he would retain those for a future ceremony with Gwil.
“You should know I intend to give Gwil my collar. I already said I wouldn’t wear one for Metra and originally I thought for the sake of harmony I wouldn’t have my collar worn publicly by Gwil for a few months but to be honest I’m not sure I give a fuck about that.”
“I’m not surprised on either front there.” She squeezed his arm. “This will not be forever. And your life will barely change apart from the odd official engagement you’ll be expected to attend.”
When she had first announced he would marry Metra, he had feared the worse but now things had changed in so many ways and he could count on his mother’s future support.
They stepped through the portal into a lobby of the great hall. Metra’s family had originally offered their palace, but Hyax wanted the home ground advantage.
Talia kissed his cheek. “I will go and join your father.”
She left and he was alone. On the other side of the door were two guards who would open them on cue, but for now he had a few moments to compose himself before the ceremony. Apart from the grandeur of the setting and the clothing, this would be nothing like the last wedding he’d attended. If the congregation was expecting a fairy-tale event they would be disappointed, although he thought they should have known better. He’d never been romantically linked to Metra in public, and he never would.Today he would play dutiful prince, but that was as far as his compliance went.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Gwil had learnt patience over the years. He’d spent days tailing a client or chasing down a lead, but from the increased chatter from the congregation he gathered it wasn’t a fae trait. He’d been stared at and pointed at and Simon had enjoyed waving at anyone who’d been too obvious. The music had been soft and lilting up until now but a fanfare of trumpets indicated things were starting.
He joined the others in standing as two pairs of wooden doors, on opposite sides of the room, opened. Meddi growled in annoyance but instead of dropping to the floor, he curled around Gwil’s shoulders like an angry stole.
Hyax entered the room from the right, dressed in a robe of shimmering gold. He was beautiful, his long blond hair had been plaited into a sea of braids woven with jewels, but his expression was blank. Gwil couldn’t recall Hyax ever looking so cold.
Across the way Metra had entered, wearing similar clothes and jewellery but Gwil wasn’t impartial enough to admit he was as attractive as Hyax, he was a poor second to his stunning boyfriend. Even though Metra was smiling, there was little warmth to his expression.
They walked slowly towards each other and came to a stop in front of a purple-robed celebrant. Hyax had explained what would happen, and how it would differ from normal versions of their ilk. Usually, a choir would have accompanied their walk, and flower petals would have been conjured to rain down upon them but there was nothing save the two of them now standing opposite each other. There should have been songs of celebration and readings from joyous texts—there would be none of that.
The celebrant stepped forwards. Her rigid stance suggested she was no more comfortable to be here than the grooms. “We are gathered to witness the joining of Prince Hyax with Prince Metra, bringing together the tribes of Tasharick and Elementa. I ask the congregation to remain standing as the proclamations are made.”
The vibration of wings and frantic whispering was on the verge of deafening and it took several moments for the audience to quieten. He glanced at Simon who appeared to be finding the whole thing amusing. Gwil supposed if he were watching someone else, he would have felt the same way, but he couldn’t escape that it was the man he loved in front of him with another.
He flinched as Simon took hold of his hand and squeezed and didn’t let go. “It’s all going to be okay,” he said.
Gwil smiled tightly but it was hard to believe.
Now order had been restored, the celebrant pressed on. Gwil thought she should have introduced herself, but maybe everyone else already knew her and he was the only one in the dark.
“Through the marriage of these princes, their tribes are pledging a union to bring forward a new era of collaboration.”
A cushion levitated from a table and on it were two silver bracelets. “Prince Hyax, please take up your offering and gift it to Prince Metra.”
Hyax picked up one of the bangles and Metra held out his hand as Hyax slid the bracelet onto his wrist.
“With this gift, I honour my tribe’s traditions and join our families. From this day hence, until a time it is decreed otherwise, you are my husband.”
Gwil wasn’t sure he’d heard correctly, if Hyax had said those words to him he would have questioned everything about their relationship, and that was the point. Hyax was not making a love match, and he would not pretend otherwise.
Metra was no longer smiling as he copied Hyax and placed the bracelet on Hyax’s wrist. “I accept your gift of union and present you with my own. We shall be husbands and our tribes will be joined.”
Gwil expected to have endured at least a kiss but that didn’t appear to be on the cards either. He heard someone whisper behind him: “I told you, Prince Hyax is loyal, not just to his tribe but to his Beloved.”
He didn’t see who said it, but he agreed with the sentiment.
The celebrant conjured a golden strand. “Please place your fingers together.”
